IMPHAL, May 16: A seminar on the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) today in Imphal condemned the Union government decision to impose the NCTC in the country.
The seminar was organized by The United All Communities’ Social Uplifters (UNACSU) was held at the Manipur Press Club.
The seminar resolved that the NCTC is an infringement on the powers of the state, while in Manipur it is like adding salt to the wounds suffered by the Manipur under AFSPA.
Speaking at the seminar social activist and advisor of AMUCO Dr Dhanabir Laishram discussed the inception of the NCTC and its fallout in the local scenario.
Modeled on the United States NCTC its Indian version has several debatable issues as the norms have been modified to suit the security forces, Dr Dhanabir opined.
Advocate Angomcha Araba of Lifewatch said that the agency is a means for the centre to encroach upon the state authority due to lack of trust from the former.
He added, NCTC has been established to check Maoist’s and northeast insurgents. He also appealed to the public to oppose the agency as it will create further problems.
He called upon MLAs to discuss the issue in the assembly. In a query by IFP, Araba stated that NCTC is more dangerous than AFSPA.
Advocate Khaidem Mani said, “AFSPA is an enactment while NCTC is not. One can be arrested under AFSPA with knowledge of state authorities, whereas NCTC can override state police. Persons detained by NCTC need not be produced before the judiciary within a span of 24 hours, whereas those arrested under AFSPA needs to be produced.”
He added, both acts have equal disadvantages to the public and needs to be scrapped.
Professor N Joykumar, Manipur University opined that the people need to be united to stop both AFSPA and NCTC.
He cited the recent elections which reflect the tendency of the public towards bribe and favoritism.
Prof Joykumar also questioned the sincerity of the public against AFSPA and Irom Sharmila’s democratic struggle for repealing the act.
“We need to be true to the cause and counter the problems otherwise there will be no positive outcome,” he concluded.